o It is compulsory to have three (3) speakers, and 1 chair/moderator who can also double as speaker.

o Each Parallel Symposium is a moderately formal 1.5 hour session. Parallel Symposia should be structured to incorporate audience member discussion, e.g. introduction 5 minutes, three presentations of 20 minutes followed by 25 minutes for conclusion/final discussion.

o It is the responsibility of the chair/moderator to keep the schedule approved by the Program Committee.

o Presentations are solely education based. The use of any advertising, trade names, or product-group message association is prohibited; this rule will be strictly enforced.

o Parallel Symposia presenters' AND ALL co-authors' disclosures must appear on the first slide of the presentation. Slides will be reviewed in the speaker ready room to ensure compliance.

o Once a Parallel Symposium Session is accepted, speaker changes are NOT allowed unless approved by the Program Committee Chair.

o Speakers are limited to no more than two (2) speaking roles in the main Conference (Key note lecture, Parallel Symposia and Brainstorming Sessions).

o Commercial logos (e.g. Company) are not permitted to appear on meeting materials, including presentation slides.

o Speakers who have their Symposia Session accepted will be eligible for a reduced registration fee. Regrettably, no financial assistance can be provided for travel or other expenses. Please note that a chair can also double as a speaker, but that chairs who are not speaking in the session are not eligible for the reduced registration fee.

Brainstorming Sessions

o This is a 60 minute interactive session.

o It is compulsory to have two (2) speakers and 1 chair/moderator who can also double as speaker.

o Each Brainstorming Session is a moderately formal 1 hour session. Brainstorming sessions should be structured to incorporate ample audience member discussion/participation, e.g. short introduction of 1 minute, two presentations of 15 minutes followed by 29 minutes for conclusion/final discussion. Alternatively it can be organized as a debate.

o It is the responsibility of the chair/moderator to keep the schedule approved by the Program Committee.

o Presentations are solely education based. The use of any advertising, trade names, or product-group message association is prohibited; this rule will be strictly enforced.

o Brainstorming Session presenters' AND ALL co-authors' disclosures must appear on the first slide of the presentation. Slides will be reviewed in the speaker ready room to ensure compliance.

o Once a Brainstorming Session is accepted, speaker changes are NOT allowed unless approved by the Program Committee Chair.

o Speakers are limited to no more than two (2) speaking roles in the Conference (Key note lecture, Parallel Symposia and Brainstorming Sessions).

o Speakers who have their Brainstorming Session accepted will be eligible for a reduced registration fee. Regrettably, no financial assistance can be provided for travel or other expenses. Please note that a chair can also double as a speaker, but that chairs who are not speaking in the session are not eligible for the reduced registration fee.

Suggested Symposia and Brainstorming Topics

Suggested Topics

· Advocacy and patient organisations

· Bipolar disorders in children and adolescents

· Bipolar disorders in the elderly

· Brain structure and brain function

· Comorbidity between bipolar disorders and medical disorders

· Comorbidity between bipolar disorders and other psychiatric disorders